Many more Canadians may suffer from eating disorders than previously thought, according to a national organization that develops and disseminates information on eating disorders and related issues.
It is estimated that 600,000 to 990,000 Canadians are diagnosed with an eating disorder at any given time. However, a staggering 50 percent of Canadians know someone (including themselves) who has or has had an eating disorder, according to a recent Ipsos Reid poll commissioned by the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC).
“This reinforces the fact that eating disorders are more prevalent than people think,” says Marbella Carlos, outreach and education co-ordinator at NEDIC, adding that eating disorders can affect anyone at any age, regardless of gender or nationality.
